Good Morning,
Cap clouds are having their way with the higher peaks this Sunday morning, but aren’t expected to win the fight. Should be a sunny day for hikers to enjoy the wilderness up high and down low. Temps will feel stellar at all elevations as well, with high readings coming in round the lower 60s at the lodge this afternoon. Breezy conditions will persist, so folks might appreciate having that extra layer for sitting around at the top once the body has cooled down from ascension exertion. Monday looks to be another stunning day for outdoor ramblings before we get into a week mixed with sunshine and isolated storm chances. A thermometer ranging from 40s to 60s will be the norm over the coming days. Reminder that even as we approach a new month and begin to bridge the gap between spring and summer, our hours of service remain the same as they have since we opened our doors in late March. Overnight guest meals are 6:00 PM for supper and 8:00 AM for breakfast, with ample time to fill up on the fixin’s and catch a relaxing sunrise or sunset. For day hikers, the gift shop (currently located in the dining hall) is still open from 9:00-10:00 AM and again from 12:00-4:30 PM. This allows the early hikers a chance to snag some souvenirs without disrupting the overnight guest breakfast, and then it reopens for peak visitor traffic and guest check-in during the afternoon. The dining hall and gift shop are closed between 10:00 AM and noon because our hard working crew require that time to get the dining hall, numerous guest cabins, and restroom facilities cleaned up and reorganized. Thank you for respecting what our dedicated staff must do for our paying overnight guests while you plan your visits to the mountain accordingly if garnering some lodge memorabilia or savory snacks is on your wishlist. Have a great day.
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Good Morning,
Clouds are swooping and swirling over the mountain to start this last weekend of April. Skies will see a mix of sun and overcast throughout the day, but there won’t be a threat of precip for a couple days for the weekend warriors and wildflower pilgrims thankfully. Temps will be slightly warmer up top, tempting the upper 50s, while winds will be somewhat gusty at times, whipping up to 35mph. Sunday looks to be even warmer and sunnier for travelers. As we look back on the first full month of the 2024 season, one thing certainly stands out, and that is folks are absolutely inspired by it being the 100th season! Seems like we say this every year, but this year’s shirt design might just become the most popular of all time. It’s a long season, but the excitement on visitor’s faces is unmistakable, and that brings us joy too. And although the gift shop experience is a little different this year, what’s also undeniable is that guests and day hikers are having a great time shopping, eating, lounging, and gaming in the dining hall. So much of what makes the Lodge experience so special is that shared communal experience. We’re no strangers to overcoming challenges and changes out of our control - sometimes in rapid succession if the last few years have taught us all anything - but that shared experience with family and friends passionate for spending time in the natural world remains front and center. Have a great weekend. Good Afternoon,
It’s been a wet and sloppy day for much of this Friday in the mountains. The rain has lingered much longer today than originally anticipated, slicing down like a conveyor belt from the northwest. Slowly but surely the precip is vacating the vicinity but don’t be surprised if these clouds hold onto the higher peaks and continue to mist through the evening. Saturday looks mostly cloudy with windy conditions and mild temps ranging from 40s to 50s. Sunday is shaping up to be the best day of the weekend, calling for sunshine and temps in the 60s. All this rain is doing wonder for the vegetation. The Myrtle blooms down at Inspiration Point are filling in nicely, and the Catawba rhododendron there will be opening up before long. Usually the Myrtle doesn’t show out at Cliff Tops and its namesake point up here til about mid May. The rejuvenation of life in these mountains comes in vivid color, varying shapes, sized both big and small, visible both high and low. Take advantage of those moments during the hike to “stop and smell the roses!” Have a great rest of the day. Good Afternoon,
Just as predicted, yesterday was a slow crawl out of the rain and clouds, but as the afternoon pressed on, everyone’s patience and perseverance paid off with a beautiful evening and absolutely breathtaking sunset. One can witness inspiring sunsets all over the globe, but honestly, they pale in comparison to those we get to enjoy right here above East Tennessee. And thankfully, a great many dignitaries felt the same way 100 years ago when admiring a sensational solar spectacle from atop this majestic mountain. And as they say - for both the Lodge and shortly thereafter, the Park - the rest is history! The atmospheric clarity rode straight through the evening and well into today. Visitor traffic in the Smokies obviously took notice and was a bit busier today as folks flocked to frolic in the sunshine. Clouds will gradually thicken tonight and tomorrow morning. There is a slight chance for some rain come Friday afternoon. Temps will remain mild with 40s tonight and highs in the 50s tomorrow. Keep the extra later for staying dry and warm close by just in case. Have a great night. Good Morning,
After dreaming under a blindingly bright full moon, we are looking at a wet start to this Wednesday on the mountain, as light rain showers sweep across the region. The damp conditions aren’t expected to last long though, and should clear out this afternoon in time for clouds to thin and sunshine to return. It’ll remain cool up top today, and even if the thermometer reaches 50°, winds will be gusting up around 35mph, negating what little warmth the sun might afford us. So keep toting those additional layers, as summer sensations at our elevation are still a long ways off. Tomorrow is forecast to be slightly warmer and quite pleasant from sunup to sundown, which spans about 13.5 hours these days. We’re well into the time of year now where guests have ample time to digest a satisfying supper and relax before trodding up to Cliff Tops for sunset, as well as making the longer trek to Myrtle Point and back for sunrise before slurping down a savory breakfast. For others, spending that time snuggled up under a wool blanket after a warm meal is their calling, and up here that’s alright too. Have a great day. Good Morning,
A handful of clouds streak across the sky, but they aren’t expected to hang around long. The mountains are looking ahead to a sun-filled Tuesday, which should certainly draw in the ambitious hikers today. It’s another chilly morning around freezing once again but we should climb out of this frost advisory currently in effect very soon. A pleasant afternoon awaits as the summit should reach the mid 50s later. Although the air will be decently clear today (save for the pollen-filled haze swallowing the South), conditions will be a bit breezy with gusts up near 25mph. So continue to bring an extra layer or two for keeping that early spring chill at bay. Rain is forecast to make a return late this evening and linger into Wednesday morning before clearing by tomorrow afternoon. So guests staying tonight or hitting the trails tomorrow should have the gear for staying dry in tow. With just a week remaining in April, hard to believe we’ve already been open a month! Have a great day. Good Afternoon,
The higher peaks of the Smokies at long last witnessed seeing some flurries fly on Sunday, but thankfully they were unable to stick or create sketchy trail conditions for visitors. It’s substantially cooler today though, and we’ll be lucky to scrape 40°. Warm layers will be necessary despite the abundant sunshine today, and especially for tonight once the thermometer dips back down below freezing. We’ll get slightly higher readings in the coming days, and conditions will remain mostly pleasant in the mountains, but it won’t be like the heat wave we were all basking in last week. Prospective visitors to the lodge who regularly inquire as to what treats they can hike up for the crew - this next bit is for you. The crew candy bin is running sparse, specifically in the chocolate department, so we’re putting out an APB for the sweets. As always, the tasty and savory snacks are appreciated by our hard working crew, and they certainly thank anyone and everyone for their thoughtfulness and charity in toting some up. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Things are staying wet and green instead of icy and white for the moment. Temps across the higher elevations are lurking around the freezing mark, but the liquid precip continues to hold serve. Rain showers and thick clouds will remain a presence in the mountains early today with some partial clearing taking place later on. We are expecting to drop below freezing tonight, but hopefully the skies have cleared by then to keep roads and trails clear of any new slick hazards. After today, the coming week looks quite promising for sun-filled weather, but it will be cooler on average than what we’ve been enjoying recently. We’re talking temps in the 30s-50s most days, so have those extra layers handy if taking a break in the shade or for enjoying a famous Cliff Tops sunset. Expect park roads and gateway communities to still see some heavier than normal congestion as the various car-cruises wind down festivities today. Have a great day. Good Morning,
Well once we got through the early morning rains, the rest of the dreary forecast turned out to be all bark and no bite. So Friday ended up becoming a rather gorgeous day to spend time outdoors. The atmospheric threats continued to lessen as the hours passed and simply refused to materialize. Fine by us and our llamas! Even so, we aren’t out of the woods yet (figuratively, of course). Cloudy conditions have settled in over the mountains this morning, and a band of rain is working its way across East TN toward us. So come prepared for a spot of precip early on in one’s hike. After that, skies will remain mostly cloudy and temps will actually drop from upper 40s to lower 30s. A late addition to the forecast for tonight and Sunday is an unusual, but not unheard of, chance for SNOW! Whether we actually drop below the freezing mark tonight and tomorrow will make all the difference. Either way, folks will just have to wait in anticipation to see if the liquid precip turns solid at any point this weekend. Today kicks off National Park Week across the US, and as such, the NPS recognize April 20th as one of their select “fee free” days for visitors. Even though the Smokies lack an entrance fee year-round, this does make for an exemption to the parking tag fees today. Vehicles will need those tags on display though resuming tomorrow. And as we’ve mentioned throughout the week, the annual Rod Run and accompanying auto-events that take Sevier County by storm are on full throttle today and conclude tomorrow. Expect heavy traffic congestion in and around the park. Early starts, planning alternate routes, and packing the patience will go a long way for everyone. Have a great day. Good Morning,
As expected, the rain has arrived, making its presence known around sunrise. These stormy conditions are slated to be rolling through the region all day and night, so count on trails to a bit sloppy today. Temps will range from 40s to 50s, but between the rain and wind gusts near 30mph, that could feel quite chilly to anyone improperly outfitted for the conditions. Layers for staying dry will be a must today if one has hopes of scaling the mountain as comfortable as possible. Precip could linger into Saturday morning as clouds slowly transition over to sunnier skies tomorrow. Then the next round of wet weather makes an appearance on Sunday. If anything is enjoying the mix of warm temps and intermittent rains lately, it has to be the park’s flora. Wildflowers across the mid elevations are really popping now, and the greenery of the forest canopy is starting to thicken down low. Even a small patch of spring beauties has appeared outside our kitchen in recent days. It’s a drawn out process, but getting to watch the ascendance of spring up the mountain’s slopes is always magical to behold. Stay dry and have a great day. |
LeConte LodgeWelcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable. Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain! Archives
April 2024
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